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La. Sgt. Killed, 2 Deputies Injured In Shooting

A Louisiana man who allegedly set fire to a mobile home shot three responding officers, killing one and critically injuring two others.

State Police took Wilbert Thibodeaux, 48, into custody following the early Saturday incident. Thibodeaux has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of arson, reports the Daily Advertiser.

On Monday, authorities identified Sgt. Rick Riggenbach, who had been with the tribal Chitimacha Police Department for 15 years, as the slain officer. St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Deputies Matthew Strickland, 24, and Jason Javier, 23, remain hospitalized and are recovering from their injuries. The officers were wounded by shotgun rounds, and are expected to fully recover.

The officers responded after a 911 caller reported that a man carrying a shotgun was walking down a street near the tribe's reservation, reports the Associated Press. The body of Eddie Lyons, 78, was found later in a burned trailer near the shooting. Thibodeaux was wounded in the incident.

Comments (4)

Displaying 1 - 4 of 4

Chuck @ 1/28/2013 4:35 PM

What, no "assault rifle," the media will let this story die in a day or so and we will never hear of it again. Doesn't fit their plan I guess. Prayers to the family of the fallen office, speedy recovery to the injured officers. Get back in the game brothers.

Capt David-Ret LA County @ 1/28/2013 5:24 PM

WTF..

Doc @ 1/28/2013 8:26 PM

An "assault shotgun" as the media would say.The problem here was the Violent Criminal, and he had been arrested just recently, by the officer that he killed.We keep arresting the same Violent Criminals, and the charges get reduced to almost nothing, with little if any punishment.Let's Register All Violent Criminals, just like we do the sex offenders.This killer needs a death sentence, just like he dished out to others.

Dan B @ 1/29/2013 7:27 AM

I do agree with Chuck and Doc and their comments on ""assault shotgun." I do not agree that registration is going to resolve anything. As an officer that has been responsible for Sex Offender registration since it came to our state, registering violent criminals won't resolve much. Doc touched on it. What is needed is something for which nobody wants to pay, more prisons with harsher sentencing. Make "truth in sentencing" actually mean truth in sentencing!

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